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World Mental Health Day 2020: The Benefits of Investing in Mental Health

By HealthNo Comments

Today is World Mental Health Day. This year’s theme is investment in mental health, so with this in mind, here are some benefits of investing in mental health :

  • A healthier populous. 1 in 4 people experience mental illness at any one time . That’s a quarter of the population. Just imagine if we could reduce this statistic.
  • It would reduce the stigma surrounding mental health and mental illness.
  • A better quality of life for people with mental illnesses and their families/friends.
  • Improved mood, self-awareness, coping strategies, self-esteem and relationships, for any individual with a mental illness.
  • Less people presenting in crisis due to earlier intervention.
  • A reduced suicide rate. Suicide is the biggest killer in men under the age of 45 here in the UK according to CALM.
  • Less working days missed due to mental illness. This would lead to a productivity boost.
  • More research into what interventions and medicines are effective in the treatment of mental illnesses.
  • It is cost effective, according to the World Health Organization (pages 18 & 19 ). Meaning that money invested would be returned back into society through cost savings.
  • Increase equality . Access to Healthcare is a Human Right, see my post The Human Rights Act (1998) Explained. The Human Rights Act (1998) was designed to increase equality.

I’m a strong advocate of increasing investment in mental health education and treatment.

Want to know more about mental health and mental illness? Then check out my book Mental Health Wisdom:

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Write soon,

Antony

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The Benefits of Being The Middle Child

By Friends & Family, ThinkingNo Comments
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Growing up I was the middle child. There are mixed views on whether the order of birth impacts on the individual, but my question is: How can it not? Especially when 80% of what we do is learned behaviour.

Research says that middle children are:

  • Adaptable.
  • More likely to take risks.
  • More Independent.
  • Better at articulating our view.
  • Have healthier and happier social relationships.
  • Are self-motivated.
  • Have realistic expectations.
  • Are responsible.
  • Are more empathic.
  • Value justice rather than money.
  • Good at working in teams.
  • Have strong leadership skills.
  • Are more patient.
  • Have less ego.
  • Are more likely to succeed in making changes to the world.
  • Do better in positions of great power and responsibility.
  • Are happy not being the centre of attention.
  • Are determined and driven to succeed.

I can’t help but wonder if this research was undertaken by middle children to make themselves sound good. Listing the above on a CV would definitely lead to someone landing an interview.

Take more independent as an example. I’d say I’m independent, but no more so that either of my brothers.

But the are some benefits to being the middle child. Being the middle child I’ve always had hand-me-downs. As a young child hand-me-downs were just part of growing up. But as an adult one of my brothers is into designer clothes. He doesn’t buy clothes often, but when he does I get his hand-me-downs. 

Another benefit is that I always have big brothers who have got my back and are a source of support. I always have older brothers to ask for advice and some of their advice has truly been invaluable.

Being the middle child has helped me to be more extroverted in social situations. It has helped me to learn how to work a room and make people laugh. This is probably to ensure that as a middle child I don’t get forgotten about. Even if this means being slightly dramatic at times to get my voice heard. I also make good use of pauses and silence to get the impact that I want in social situations.

There’s a freedom to being the middle child that comes from parents having no expectations, unlike expectations parents often put on the first born. This means that we middle children can do what we like, within reason and usually without disappointing our parents.

Being the middle child has helped me to be better at negotiation, compromise and sharing. This is due to having to consider others growing up.

Are you a middle child? What are the benefits you’ve found from your birth order? Leave a comment below.

Blog soon,

Antony

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The Benefits of a 4 Day Work Week for the Employee & Employer

By Political, ThinkingNo Comments
office-icon-by-antony-simpson A lot of employers are looking at the benefits of a 4 day work week for their employees. In the UK its even attracted the attention of The Labour Party, becoming part of their manifesto. The idea is that the employee works the same amount of hours, but over 4 days instead of 5 days.

I like this idea. It seems to be a win-win. The employee gains, but so do employers. Here are the benefits of a 4 day work week for the employee:

  • Increased happiness.
  • A better work/life balance.
  • More time with family and friends.
  • More time to take up hobbies, interests or even volunteering.
  • Better physical health – lower levels of stress, more and better quality sleep, improvement in concentration, memory and problem solving. Possible increased physical fitness due to more time for a better diet and exercise.
  • Increased creativity.
  • Reduced risk of ‘burn out.’
  • A feeling of working to live, rather than living to work.
  • Save money due to less travel and lunch expenses.
  • Less time stuck in traffic on the commute to and from work. As employees will start earlier and finish later.

For Employers:

  • Increased productivity. Employees spend less time on non-work activities and really put their heads down to make the most of the hours they are in work.
  • Lower rates of sickness and a lessened length of sickness absence.
  • Employees that are more engaged.
  • Smarter ways of working developed.
  • Better outcomes from work undertaken.
  • More resilient individuals and teams that find it easier to deal with and adapt to change.
  • Employees give better customer service.
  • Improved communication and collaborative working.
  • Automation of some manual processes leading to increased efficiency.
  • Reduced estate costs – electricity only being used 4 days a week rather than 5 days.
  • More loyalty from staff – They’ll think twice about moving on if it means they’ll have to go back to a five day work week.

What do you think about a four day work week? Leave a comment below.

Blog soon,

Antony



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